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I'm no stranger to packing a carry-on, but when I checked in to Lanserhof Tegernsee— a medical spa slap bang in the middle of miles of beautiful Bavarian countryside—the contents of my suitcase looked a little different to the last time I took to the skies. Gone were breezy two-pieces and flowing maxi dresses best suited to islands in Greece or the Balearics, and in were minimalist separates with an athleisure twist. Ahead lay a week of analysis, detoxification, and reflection. Here’s what I packed and why.
The packing essentials
I love a soft-sided suitcase and the Antler Lightest carry-on is my current favorite. No classic handbag was necessary for this trip, so I took the trusty Uniqlo crossbody bag and a card holder for the flight, then slotted a foldable tote into my suitcase for days at the spa.
The activewear
The medi-spa experience can be tailored to individual needs, but I knew there would be physical movement and nutrition rules involved in my plan so I packed accordingly and chose pieces I could mix and match depending on the activity and the weather. I also had a baseball cap on hand—one that I could wear both during and after exercise.
The comfortable shoes
Sneakers are the obvious choice when it comes to days off duty. Especially for this trip, when an hour’s walk through the German countryside was a morning ritual. At home, my gym go-to is the Nike Quest 6 running shoes, so they were first in my suitcase. They’re also lightweight: a winner when you’ve got a carry-on weight limit. For a slightly smarter alternative and something to wear on the flight, I took the suede Adidas Handball Spezial. I love that this shape dates back to the '70s and even though it's more of a fashion piece today, it was initially designed for indoor sports, so it’s still super comfy. Lastly, Birkenstocks were non-negotiable. I take them on most trips and wear them throughout the summer in London, too.
The daytime attire
It’s not every day you find yourself taking an alpaca for a walk through forests and fields, but when you do, it’s fuss-free separates that you need. My natural aesthetic (unintentionally) fitted with the vibe at Lanserhof where everything felt clean-cut and cleansing. Linen separates were the hardest working pieces in my rotation, and they’ll work just as well on the trip I've planned to Crete for next month.
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
